1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, welcome to the Daily ODS. I know that 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: you're all a little sleepy this morning after staying up 3 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: late to watch the Paralympics opening ceremony last night. We've 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: got another big episode of the Daily OS. A special 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: guest on the back half of this episode, and I'll 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: let Zara introduce her to you. Zara, let's start off 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: with the big news stories of the day. How did 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: the state of Affairs look for COVID nineteen in Australia yesterday? 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Well, it's a funny world in which seven hundred and 10 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 2: fifty three locally acquired cases is a relief. But yesterday 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 2: in New South Wales there was a minor drop in cases. 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: But we do know that at least forty nine of 13 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: those seven hundred and fifty three were infectious in the community. 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: While no deaths were reported in the morning's press conference, 15 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 2: we did find out later via New South Wales Health 16 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: that a person in their thirties had died with COVID nineteen. 17 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: The state did record, however, a milestone in the vaccination race. 18 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: Here's what gladysbary Jiclian said yesterday. 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 3: So pleased and grateful that New South Wales has already 20 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 3: hit the six million jabs and doctor Chant and our 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 3: team had conversations this morning about what's possible now because 22 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 3: we've hit that milestone, and I look forward to making 23 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 3: that announcement on Thursday or Friday this week as to 24 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 3: what fully vaccinated people will be able to do from 25 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 3: the month of September because of the target that we've set. 26 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 3: So thank you to everybody who stepped up and got 27 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: the JAB. That equates to about sixty percent of our 28 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 3: population across the state having at least one dose and 29 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: around thirty two percent of our population double dose. Over 30 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 3: in Victoria, there were fifty locally acquired cases and thirty 31 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 3: nine of those were infectious in the community. The Act 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 3: recorded thirty locally acquired cases and at least eleven of 33 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 3: those were infectious in the community, with a few more 34 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 3: still under investigation. 35 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: Six hundred and fifty people from Afghanistan were rescued yesterday morning, 36 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: bring the total number of people extracted by Australian forces 37 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: to almost seventeen hundred. Making some comments yesterday, Prime Minister 38 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: Scott Morrison also confirmed Australia would continue these evacuation flights 39 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: if the US extended the withdrawal deadline pass the thirty 40 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: first of August. Morrison said, if that deadline is able 41 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: to be pushed out, we've made that clear to the 42 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: United States that we would support that. 43 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: Staying on the topic of the US, the leader of 44 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 2: the Proud Boys extremist group, Henry Tario, was sentenced to 45 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: over five months in jail yesterday over the destruction of 46 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: a Black Lives Matter banner and for bringing two high 47 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: capacity firearm magazines into the nation's capital just days before 48 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: the January sixth capital attack. The judge on the matter 49 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 2: said mister Tario has intentionally and proudly crossed the line 50 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 2: from peaceful protests and assembly to dangerous and potentially violent 51 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: criminal conduct. 52 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: And today's good news another state is on Pizar. Victoria 53 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: has expanded the eligibility for the PIZA COVID nineteen vaccine 54 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: to those age sixteen to thirty nine at state run hubs. 55 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 1: The change came into effect at seven am this morning, 56 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: and the Victorian government said eight hundred and thirty thousand 57 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: appointments will be made available for vaccinations over the next 58 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: four weeks, and that includes four hundred fet fifty thousand 59 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: fizer appointments. 60 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: For today's pod. We are talking to a minister in 61 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: the New South Wales government and we're eight weeks into lockdown, 62 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 2: so we thought it would be a good time to 63 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: touch base with someone whose portfolios really cover a lot 64 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: of the issues that are being highlighted by this outbreak 65 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: and by the lockdown. Before I introduce our guest, I 66 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 2: do just want to foreshadow that we discuss some tough 67 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: themes like suicide and ill mental health. So if you're 68 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: not in the mind frame to be listening to this, 69 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: feel free to join us again tomorrow and skip this interview. 70 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: Today I'm joined by Bronnie Taylor, who is the Minister 71 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: in New South Wales for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women. 72 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 2: Just a quick heads up, it does seem like even 73 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: New South Wales ministers for victim to bad internet problems. 74 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: So we have tried our best to get around the glitching, 75 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: but please just keep in mind that we are all 76 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: doing this from home and that sometimes it might be 77 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 2: a bit difficult. Minister Taylor, thank you so much for 78 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: joining us today, and you have quite a few ministerial 79 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: responsibilities in the New South Wales government. Three of those 80 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 2: are really really important to our audience. As the Minister 81 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: for Mental Health, the Minister for Women, and the Minister 82 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 2: for Regional Youth. You are touching a lot of these 83 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: points that are coming up during COVID. I wanted to 84 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: start with mental health. We have seen in recent days 85 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 2: some data about Lifeline and that calls to Lifeline and 86 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: other helplines have risen to record highs. What we haven't 87 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: seen is a corresponding increase in suicides. Can you speak 88 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: to why that might be? 89 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 4: Yeah, And look that's a really good question. I mean 90 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 4: on Friday last week we had the highest number of 91 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 4: calls nationally to Lifeline every five hundred and five calls. 92 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 4: And we're also see numbers rise with youth friendly services, 93 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 4: including Kids' Helpline. But I think also one way to 94 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 4: look at this data is firstly, think oh, that's concerning. 95 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 4: That's the immediate reaction. But on the flip side, it's 96 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 4: such positive because one it means is that people are 97 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 4: actually reaching out for help. And I think this is 98 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 4: a really really good thing. And you know, for decades 99 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 4: people have been trying to break down the stigma that's 100 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 4: associated with mental health and I think this is an 101 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 4: example of that. It's demonstrated evidence that people feel that 102 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 4: they can put their hand up for help. So it's 103 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 4: really important that we talk about it and it's really 104 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 4: important that we let people know what type of services 105 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 4: are out there. At the beginning of the pandemic last year, 106 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 4: there was a lot of doom and gloom coming out 107 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 4: of certain people in the sector saying that the research 108 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 4: had said that there was going to be an absolute 109 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 4: surgeon suicides and mental health issues, etc. And of course, 110 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 4: to me, as the Minister of Mental Health, newstuff, well 111 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 4: that's super concerning, right because I don't want to see 112 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 4: any increase in suicides. I'd like to eradicate suicide. But 113 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 4: I think what we've actually seen is that that hasn't 114 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 4: definitely didn't play out last year. The numbers this year 115 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 4: are looking to be quite stable with that of last year. 116 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 4: In saying that any death is very very different, means 117 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 4: to answer your question is that we've got really fantastic 118 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 4: services on the ground that are under the pump that 119 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 4: are really being used increasingly and you can see that 120 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 4: in the data. But gee, they're doing a good job 121 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 4: because we aren't seeing that real surge. And look, I'm 122 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 4: not saying that that won't happen, and I think we 123 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 4: have to be really realistic. There are definitely heightened levels 124 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 4: of anxiety, heightened levels of depression. We've seen an increase 125 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 4: in self harm and that's internationally, right, that's not just 126 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 4: New South walesa not just Australia. That's internationally. But I 127 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 4: just think, you know, just a huge shout out to 128 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 4: all those organizations, government and non government that are doing 129 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 4: an incredible job. 130 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: It's nice to hear a positive spin to what's going 131 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: on at the moment. I know that in our comment 132 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 2: section at least all of the people who seem to 133 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: be anti lockdown, their one line of argument is that 134 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 2: we are seeing an increase in suicides, so when can 135 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: we expect that data to come out? 136 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 4: So we actually do have real time data as part 137 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,679 Speaker 4: of vast suicide prevention strategy in New Southwales. We launched 138 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 4: that last year where we have month by month data 139 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 4: of suicide in New South Wales and we work really 140 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 4: carefully with the coroners caught on that and those are 141 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,239 Speaker 4: actually the facts and the thing is right, if someone 142 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 4: tragically commits suicide in your community, or you might have 143 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 4: two or three people in a period of a couple 144 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 4: of months, which is a really really difficult situation. To you, 145 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 4: that seems exponential and to groups and to people in 146 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 4: that community it seems like an exponential rise. All I 147 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 4: can tell you is that the data is not reflecting 148 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 4: that at the moment. For the first time ever, we 149 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 4: had a reduction in suicides in rural and regional New 150 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 4: South Wales last year when that's usually been the highest. 151 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 4: But that doesn't mean too that some areas had a 152 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 4: disproportionate increase, which they did. We saw some areas that 153 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 4: were more adversely affected. But the reality is at the moment, 154 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 4: and I really really really hope it's days that way, 155 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 4: we are not seeing in exponential growth in people taking 156 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 4: their own lives. And so when people are saying that, 157 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 4: it's not reflecting the data, and that is publicly available data. 158 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: So if young people are for the first time help 159 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 2: seeking and reaching out for assistance during a challenging time, 160 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: what services are available to them and what has the 161 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 2: New South Wales government put in place especially for young people. 162 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: And I'd love to hear also about regional youth, what's 163 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 2: in place for those people. 164 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 4: What we did in terms of just talking COVID specifically, 165 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 4: now we've increased funding to Headspace. Now, when you say, okay, 166 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 4: what does increased funding mean, and I don't want to 167 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 4: talk in dollars because you're not interested in that. Right, 168 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 4: people want to know and young people want to know 169 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 4: what the services are, and often I hear that there 170 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 4: is a large waiting list at Headspace. We're trying really 171 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 4: hard to make sure that we're keeping that down and 172 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 4: keeping that going. But they seem to have a really 173 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 4: good brand name. I can't find a better word than that, 174 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 4: but they seem to be comfortable to access it, so 175 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 4: that's one really positive thing. There's also Kids Helpline, which 176 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 4: is a really fantastic service that has a chat mechanism 177 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 4: via SMS, which I think a lot of young people 178 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 4: perhaps sometimes prefer. All increased funding means to your listeners 179 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 4: is that we've increased capacity. We've also increased funding to 180 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 4: the Butterfly Foundation as well, because we have seen an 181 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 4: increase in self harm, which means an increase in eating disorders. 182 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 4: And also what we have seen, and this is also 183 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 4: an international phenomenon, is that we've seen a recurrence of 184 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 4: eating disorders. So that's something that we're very clearly focused 185 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 4: on and again, if you concern, we really want to 186 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 4: get out there and help you. What we've also done 187 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 4: as well is we've increased the capacity to be able 188 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 4: to help people that are in isolation. So when you 189 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 4: are considered a close contact of someone who's had COVID, 190 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 4: you're then classified by yourself well as health as a 191 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 4: close contact, which that means you have to go into 192 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 4: fourteen days of ISO. And I've had to do it 193 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 4: and it sucks, right, it's really difficult. Have you had 194 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 4: to do it too. 195 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: I've had to do it twice now and I can 196 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 2: confirm it doesn't get better the second time. But we 197 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: know how important it is, so we do it. But 198 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 2: it's not pleasant. 199 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 4: Oh you poor thing. Well you'll be pleased to know. 200 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 4: We've increased funding too Sonder, which is an organization that 201 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 4: deals really effectively with mental health and getting people to 202 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 4: the right place at the right time, and they are 203 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 4: actually really focused on those people in isolation because, as 204 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 4: you would know and far out you've done it twice, 205 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 4: it is tough, So we really want to concentrate on 206 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 4: that group of people as well. And look, we've also 207 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 4: increased funding to Lifeline and they've just been phenomenal and 208 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 4: also increased funding to perinatal anxiety and depression services in 209 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 4: the Gidget Foundation and Trisilian because we know that parents 210 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 4: and young parents and older parents are really struggling at 211 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 4: this time with having a new baby, because it's challenging enough. 212 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 4: It's a wonderful time, but it's hard, and you're isolated, 213 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 4: and you can't see your family and you can't go 214 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 4: to playgroup. Those sorts of things are really important for 215 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 4: everyone to know because a lot of people know people 216 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 4: that have just had a young baby and really keep 217 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 4: an eye on those people because they are at heightened 218 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 4: risk of perinal depression and anxiety and it's a particularly 219 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 4: tough time for them. 220 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: I want to move now to women, and we know 221 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 2: that women have been disproportionately and negatively impacted by COVID nineteen, 222 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 2: especially when we think about their role in the workforce. 223 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 2: So what's been done to combat this at a state level? 224 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 4: Women have really taken the extra burden on this, not 225 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 4: only from the fact that a lot of women work 226 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 4: in that service industry of childcare and health and things 227 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 4: like that, so you've got a lot of frontline service 228 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 4: workers that are women, but also the working from home thing, 229 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 4: and they're trying to run things and trying to make 230 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 4: sure that everyone's fed and trying to make sure that 231 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 4: everyone's happy. And look, I'm not being sexist in those comments. 232 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 4: Those are genuine things that women often do and like 233 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 4: to do and like to make sure that everyone's sort 234 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 4: of functioning. So you've got that whole which has had 235 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 4: a disproportionate stress on women and therefore the loss of 236 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 4: employment as well because of the nature of the great 237 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 4: majority of that workforce. So one thing that we did 238 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 4: was we implemented a return to work program. So that 239 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 4: was grants of up to five thousand dollars which were 240 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 4: available for education or for professional development, or childcare, or 241 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 4: transportation or technology. Because what some women were telling us 242 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 4: was that you know that actually realized they've been in 243 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 4: these jobs that they've been doing for quite a while. 244 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 4: COVID hit they weren't doing it, and they thought, you 245 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 4: know what, we really want to do something different, but 246 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 4: we need a laptop to be able to access that, 247 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 4: or we need an iPad, or we need to be 248 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 4: able to do a tape course, or we want to 249 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 4: pivot and do something else. So we thought, okay, how 250 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 4: can we make this as flexible as possible, and we've 251 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 4: had a really great uptake of that program and some 252 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 4: really terrific stories of women pivoting. Think another positive of 253 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 4: women always wanted more of a balance in terms of 254 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 4: being able to you know, work more remote. We're like, 255 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 4: there's the most incredible resource of women and we're all 256 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 4: in regional New South Wales who haven't been able to 257 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 4: have jobs because of basically where they live, and now 258 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 4: that opportunity's opened up. And we know too that you know, 259 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 4: working from home, although it's extremely challenging when kids go 260 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 4: back to school and when there's other opportunities to be 261 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 4: able to do that, that's actually a massive bonus for women. 262 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 4: So there have been a lot of opportunities that have 263 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 4: come out of it, but there've definitely been some high 264 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 4: level challenges. 265 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 2: You mentioned earlier those regional women, and I do want 266 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 2: to just turn to regional youth. Last week there was 267 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 2: an interesting way that our regional population in New South 268 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 2: Wales found out about going into lockdown, which was either 269 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 2: by state MP's tweeting or sending messages or by journalists tweeting. 270 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 2: So what lines of communication is open currently for people 271 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 2: in the regions who are finding out really big implications 272 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 2: and really big pieces of information online. How can you 273 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 2: reassure those audiences that they are being listened to and 274 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 2: that their concerns are being listened Yeah. 275 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 4: Look, there's been a lot of conversation about that, and 276 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 4: it probably was pretty clunky on our behalf of getting 277 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 4: that information out there. But when decisions are made, I 278 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 4: really believe that people have a right to know, and 279 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 4: I think nothing irritates people more than when government sort 280 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 4: of decides something and they've known about it for two 281 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 4: days but then sort of come out and say, Okay, 282 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 4: well this is what we're going to do. I mean, 283 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 4: let's just be really honest here, right. And the reality 284 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 4: of that announcement was that we had a meeting with 285 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 4: our boss, the Deputy Premier, who actually included people from 286 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 4: other parties in that meeting. So whoever had a rule 287 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 4: and regional seat was included in that, whether they were 288 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 4: from the National Party and the coalition or not. That's 289 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 4: one thing that that's really good because that's how you 290 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 4: get really good policies often, and that's how you get 291 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 4: really good results. And we were all in agreeance that 292 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 4: this is what had to be done. We were worried 293 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 4: about the regions and we said we've got to do 294 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 4: it now. That was the consensus, and so it was 295 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 4: just decided right, get it out there any network you can, 296 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 4: because if then we wait for health and we wait 297 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 4: for the media release and we wait for all that, 298 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,239 Speaker 4: then that's ours. And it was at five o'clock that afternoon, 299 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 4: so probably wasn't done in the best way at the moment. 300 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 4: And the main thing is to get the message out 301 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 4: there in terms of regional people knowing. One thing that 302 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 4: the Deputy Premier John Barrollaro, who has done is he's 303 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 4: having a regional press conference now every day and he's 304 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 4: talking to regional journalists to make sure that the message 305 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 4: gets out. And I'm really pleased that we're doing that. 306 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 4: I have a daughter who's a regional journalist herself, and 307 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 4: don't worry, she gives me plenty of feedback about how 308 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 4: we should do things. And you know, when I said 309 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 4: to oh, this is what we're going to do now, 310 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 4: she said, on Mum, that's really fantastic. That's what we 311 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 4: need because we need to disseminate that information really quickly, 312 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 4: and it is harder in the regions because I know 313 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 4: where I live, right, we have a newspaper that everybody loves, 314 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 4: but it's once a week. So then you're left with 315 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 4: and look, I don't love Twitter, to be honest with you, 316 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: because it's a pretty poisonous, toxic place at times, but 317 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 4: it is a really good way to get stuff out 318 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 4: there in so space. But hindsight's always great, and I 319 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 4: think we're going to look back and there's going to 320 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 4: be better ways that probably we should have done things. 321 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 4: But I think what people should know, and I say 322 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 4: this hand on heart, not as a polygue but just 323 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 4: as a person, that we're all really doing the best, 324 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 4: regardless of what political stripes you're on. I mean, I 325 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 4: had a meeting with a lot of my labor colleagues 326 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 4: who have seats in southwestern and Western Sydney, and they're 327 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 4: just working their guts out trying to get all the 328 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 4: answers to people that they need and trying to do 329 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 4: the right thing. And you know, I'm sure there's lots 330 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 4: of things we could be doing better, but it's not 331 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 4: for a lack of trying. But know that we just 332 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 4: have to have these conversations at some point, but if 333 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 4: we can do them respectfully and we can admit where 334 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 4: we've made mistakes. I think that's really important, and learned 335 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 4: from it. Then that's going to make it all better 336 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 4: in the end. 337 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 2: Anyway, it's really really refreshing to hear the politicking taken 338 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: out of politics. So Minnester Taylor, thank you so much 339 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 2: for your time today. We really really appreciate it. 340 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 4: Well, thank you for having me. I've really enjoyed it. 341 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 4: Happy to chat with you anytime.